Auburn, NY -- More than 500 people, young and old, gathered as the sun began to set Wednesday evening at Market Street Park in Auburn, many holding candles and praying for a baby battling a rare genetic skin disorder.

Wednesday night, more than 2,700 people watched the prayer vigil as it was streamed live online, said Lakes Church campus pastor Sean Wrench. At the start of the vigil, Wrench told two of Easton’s older brothers, Carter, 5, and Blake, 3, a camera had been set up so their parents could see them and the hundreds of others around them. The boys ran to the front of the crowd, jumped up and down and waved into the camera. Their 7-year-old brother, Logan, was home sick, said their great-aunt Mary Pine.

Wrench and several other local ministers prayed, read passages, and asked God to heal baby Easton. Musicians also performed throughout the vigil, which Wrench said was the largest community prayer gathering he had ever seen in Auburn.

“We are believing tonight that the faith of this community is going to heal this child,” Wrench said. “The doctors say this is an incurable disease, but I happen to believe that with God all things are possible.”

The crowd immediately erupted in cheers and yelled out, “Amen.”

“Jesus said if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can say to this mountain, ‘Move,’ and that mountain will move,” Wrench said. “So tonight, we are saying to the EB in Easton’s body, ‘Move and get out of here.’ I believe that Easton is going to be cured.”

Prayer Vigil for Baby Easton FriedelOver 500 people showed up for a community prayer vigil in Auburn's Market Place Park on Wednesday night September 12, 2012 to show their support for baby Easton Friedel who was born on August 23rd with EB, a rare genetic and incurable skin disease. Several local ministers spoke and led the vigil ending with a candle lighting ceremony. Over 2,700 people watched the service online. Video by Stephen D. Cannerelli (1:43)

Lori Bodoh, another one of Easton’s great aunts at the vigil, said she has never seen so many people come together for a child. “This child has touched so many people’s hearts, and when he comes home, he’s going to continue to touch people’s lives in positive ways,” she said. “God put him here for a reason, and this is it: to bring a community together. I think the power of prayer works miracles.”

Sarah DiCola, 17, and her mother, Kathy DiCola, both of Auburn, said they have been following Easton’s story on Facebook. “I just heard his story, and it touched me because I have a son,” Sarah DiCola said, pointing to 18-month-old Cooper. “I couldn’t imagine another mother going through that pain.”

Janel Johnson, 32, of Auburn, said she also has been following the Facebook updates about Easton’s condition and felt compelled to come to the vigil with her fiance, Jeremy Smith, and their 2-month-old son, Lucas.

“Being a new mom, it definitely hits home,” Johnson said. “We had to come out and support him. This disease, I’ve never heard of until now. Hopefully, we can raise awareness and find a cure.”

Sarah and Kathy DiCola also said they had never heard of EB before Easton was born.

“We just hope by everybody coming here tonight that it brings awareness to the disease,” Kathy DiCola said. “And, hopefully, through donations we can up the research and learn more so another family doesn’t have to go through this.”

The community has continued to show its support. Dozens of fundraisers, benefits and auctions have been planned. An EB Awareness Day to educate the community about the disease is set from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 23 in Hoopes Park in Auburn.

Easton’s parents and other family members have been sending messages and photos with daily updates.

Wednesday morning, pictures of a swollen baby waking up after surgery were posted. On Tuesday, family members described Easton as a fighter who couldn’t “catch a break,” as he bled while having his dressing changed. And earlier this week, family members wrote about Easton’s “heart-wrenching, but beautiful baptism.”

“There have been good days and bad days,” Wrench said at the vigil, “but no matter what it looks like, I challenge every single one of you to say, ‘Thank you, God, that you are moving and baby Easton will be healed.”